Teaching

Our mission is to conduct world-class research in cell and developmental biology, to excel in undergraduate, graduate and medical education in biology and the anatomical sciences, and to serve the university through leadership in forums committed to graduate and professional school admissions and curriculum.

A Leadership Role in Education

Faculty members of the department teach several courses and take active leadership roles in the overall education of students.

Undergraduates:

Human anatomy (CHA 101) to undergraduates

For Professional Students:

Developmental, gross and radiographic anatomy (CHA 400)

Cell and tissue biology (CHA 402)

Neuroscience (CHA 403)

Faculty also offer graduate-level courses through graduate groups, lead freshman seminars and offer research credit to undergraduates, graduate students and professional students.

The Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy was recently recognized by the UC Davis School of Medicine for its “excellence in commitment to education.” The department congratulates its faculty on their numerous individual teaching awards.

Created by the founding dean of the UC Davis School of Medicine, this award is intended to recognize sustained and enduring contributors to education. Because the award is given by the School of Medicine for the educational contributions of a faculty member over a period of a career, successful candidates are expected to have attained at least the rank of full professor and to have had previous significant recognition (i.e., teaching awards) of their contributions to education at the School of Medicine.

Among the criteria used to judge nominees are:

Command of the subject matter and the ability to relate it to the students

Ability to stimulate thought

Ability to teach students how to learn so that they can develop an independent program of sustained learning

Paul Knoepfler, Ph.D., Professor, was recently featured on the PBS Nightly News hour, interviewed by Jennifer Doudna, by Gwen Ifil. This interview can be viewed at the following links. PBS NewsHour, YouTube.

Kenneth A. Beck, Ph.D., Lecturer, is a recipient of the Gubernaculum Award from the first year medical school class.

Tom Blankenship, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, is a co-recipient of the Gubernaculum Award from the First Year Med Students.

Richard Tucker, Ph.D., Professor, recently received both the UC Davis Academic Senate Distinguished Teaching Award, and the School of Medicine's Kaiser Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Basic Science to medical students.

Jan Nolta, Ph.D., Director of the UC Davis Stem Cell Program and its Institute for Regenerative Cures along with many other center experts recently received $53 Million in funding for the application of stem cells to the treatment of several different human diseases.

In November 2014, Anna La Torre, Ph.D. joined the department. Dr. La Torre's laboratory is interested in deciphering the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal progenitor competence and differentiation using a combination of cell lines, transgenic mouse models and biochemical approaches.

In November 2014, Sergi Simó, Ph.D. joined the department. Dr. Simó's laboratory is interested in understanding how normal development patterns the CNS and particularly how migrating neurons integrate guidance information by regulating signaling pathways to navigate and successfully reach their final destinations during development.

In August 2014, Li-En Jao, Ph.D. joined the department. Dr. Jao's laboratory is interested in understanding how the centrosome and its related organelles such as the cilium coordinate signals that regulate cell function and influence development.